It’s been a year. Hasn’t it? If you’re like me, you’re coming off this election year drained — either drained and elated or drained and defeated. Either way, it’s been an exhausting season. And here come the holidays!
Even though I love the end-of-year holidays, I’m much more tired and slightly less excited this year. The echo chambers have been echo-y, and the “breaking news” is relentless.
On Nov. 6, I was on a trans-Atlantic cruise from Spain to Fort Lauderdale, Florida. It was a working vacation — but a vacation nonetheless. It reinforced two beliefs: 1) Being in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean doesn’t shield you from American politics, and 2) Cruise ships are big, floating Petri dishes. (No offense to the cruise industry.) I returned to my desk with the post-election swirling around me — nursing a raging sinus and ear infection — to work on this issue.
A picture taken from our balcony on Nov. 6 reminded me that the sun still rises and life continues. My social media post that week read, “This time has allowed me to think about how I’ll approach the next four years. I may not be happy, but anger won’t make it better. I’ll go back home and find volunteer opportunities with [groups whose causes are meaningful to me] — and do as much good as possible to counteract the hate I see. The new day always dawns, and it’s another chance to make a difference to someone.”
Sarah Bessey, the author of “Sarah Bessey’s Field Notes” on Substack, recently wrote, “It’s no small thing to decide that you will keep caring. It is no small thing to keep showing up for the ones who need you to show up. It’s no small thing to do the work that is yours to do today. It’s not everything; it couldn’t be, but it is something.”
So, I’ll keep showing up, and I’ll keep doing the work. I’ll keep trying to make a difference and do as much good as possible. And, while I’m at it, I will give myself a little love. I challenge you to do the same because we all need self-care now and then. Give yourself that gift this season.
What you do matters — even when it feels like it doesn’t. The sun will continue to rise. However, you must “put your oxygen mask on first” and care for yourself. Our communities depend on us for the news we bring them. It’s no small thing that we do. And caring is something no one can take from us.
Whatever you celebrate this holiday season, I wish you joy and peace … and the gift of self-care.
Robin Blinder is E&P's editor-in-chief. She has been with E&P for five years. This Christmas, she can be found baking cookies, making candy and trying not to eat it all. She can be reached at robin@editorandpublisher.com.
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